Investigation of optimal design damping force based on novel mechanical model for precast wall structures connected by vertical damping devices

Currently, a method for designing the damping force for precast wall structures with vertical damping devices has garnered increasing attention. Therefore, we propose a novel mechanical model for precast walls connected by vertical damping devices based on the continuous link approach and energy principle to compute the optimal design damping force. The proposed model is validated based on experimental data and numerical simulation results obtained using the ABAQUS finite element analysis software. Subsequently, the effect of the aspect ratio of the precast walls on the damping force is analyzed based on the numerical models established. Based on the analysis results, the correlation coefficient between the design and ultimate loads is determined, and a simplified method for computing the optimal design damping force is presented. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed mechanical model in computing the optimal design damping force is demonstrated via the dynamic time-history analysis of precast wall structures. The efficacy of the proposed mechanical model overcomes the deficiency of the method for designing vertical damping devices, thus providing a foundation for further investigations into structural damage control.